Dexter j



(No Model.)

D. J. CALDWELL.

GAB, GOUPLING.

lhvrrn dramas artnr @otros ,DEXTER J. GALDVVELL, 0F GUNN, VIRGDIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,710, dated Merch22, 3 387.

Application lilcd December 1S, 1356. Serial Nor 221,977. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it 17m/y Concern:

Be it known that I, Dnxfrnn J. CALDWELL, a citizen ofthe UnitedStates,residing at Gunn, in the county of Craig and State of Virginia,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention is an improved carcoupling, the novelty of which consistsof the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fullydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is the provision @faveur-coupling whichcouples automatically, and thereby avoids the dangerous expedienteheretofore resorted to by the attendant passing between the cars at ihcrisk of his life to effect the coupling.`

A further object is the provision of simple and very easily-operatedmeans for nneoupling the cars, and further to improve the carcoupliug inminor details to render the same simple, strong, and durable invconstruction and cheap of manufacture. g y

4ln order that my invention may be fully and clearly understood and itsmerit and value be appreciated, l have illustrated a car-coup lingembodying my invention in the accompanying drawings, which represent,in-

Figure l, a side elevation of a pair of drawheads provided with myautomatic coupling means attached in position to the cars. Fig. 2represents a longitudinal sectional view of the draw-heads, illustratingthe couplingdink of the approaching car entering the draw-head to effectthe coupling. Fig. 3 represents a transverse sectional view of mycar-coupling, and Figui is a detached perspective view of the follower.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference denotecorresponding parts in the several figures thereof, A designatesportions of railwaycars to which are attached draw-heads B, of theordinary or any preferred pattern, and in connection with which I employmy automatic coupling means. On the rlhe caps c are threaded exteriorlyto screw into the tubes. The central aligned opening-sc', are also inline with the openings b of the draw-heads, for the purpose to beexplained.

Around the couplingpins D in the tubes or barrels C are coiled springsE, which give the coupling-pins a Spring-action. The upper ends ot' thesprings bear against the caps o, while their lower ends bear upon a pinor extension of the coupling-pin. fthe upper ends of the saidcoupling-pins are provided with openings or eyes d, which receive theends of rods F, that extend upwardly through openings g in horizontalarms Gr, secured to the cars, and the upper ends of the said rods F arepreferably formed with a hook, loop, orl

handle, j", to permit of the easy manipulation of the said rods F.

From this construction it will be readily seen that the coupling-pinshave a downward spring action, and can be elevated or raised by the rodsfor the purpose of uneoupiing the cars, as will be presently explained.

In the chambers or passages of the drawhcads B are plaeedthe followersH, which are constructed with the angular heads Inprovided with thecurved grooves h' on their front portions, and at the rear portion ofthe followerheads h are provided arms or rods h, around which are placedcoiled springs I, and the arms 713" are adapted to work back and forthin openings b, provided in the rear walls of the charnbers of thedraw-heads. These spring-actuated followers H are limited in theirforward movement by the contact or stop blocks J, secured by bolts tothe upper inner faces of the mouths ofthe draw-heads, as clearly shown.

This being the construction of my ear-coup ling, the operationconsequent upon the same is as follows: The rods F are elevated, causingthe followers to move forward against the stop or contact blocks and thecouplingpin to rest on the upper portion of the heads of the followers.In this position the coupling-link of the approaching draw-head entersthe haring mouth of the draw-head and strikesin the cntout portion ofthe follower, driving the same backward until the follower clears thelower end of the couplingpin,when the spring-actuated eoupling-pinshoots downward through the openings in the draw-head and therebyconfines the coupling-link in the draw-head,

further comment.

I elaim- Y l. A oar-Coupling comprising a spring-act nated followerworking in. the draw-head, a stop-block bolted to the upperinner faceofthe draw-head, in the month thereof, and a springaetnated coupling-pinmounted above the draw-head, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described car-coupling, eom- 2o prising the draw-headhaving a stop bolted to its upper inner face at its mouth, thespringactuated follower-block Working in the drawhead and having an armextending rearwardly therefrom into the rear end of the draw-head, a

barrel erected upon the draw-head, and al spring-actuated coupling-pinWorking in said i barrel, substantially as specified;

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in `go presence of two Witnesses.

DEXTER J. CALDWELL.

Vilnessos:

JAMES W. MAnsHiLL, Pinus V. JoNEs.

